The Irish standard., 1887-04-09

HIS HONESTY AND COURAGE.
The Rapldity With Which He Has Made
for Himself Great Parlia-
mentary Reputation.
Next to Mr.. Gladstone, in the opinion
of a foreign correspondent of the New
York Sun, stands the Right Hon. John
Morley. John Morley has the great ad-
vantage of no political past. Entering
on his 50th year, his life has been that
OF literary philosopher with bent for
craftsmanship, but without early op-
portunities to elucidate his theories.
AS editor of the Pail Mall Gazette, when
that publication was more serious aud
consistent and less sensational than it
has been for two years, he may justly
be credited with being the literary
apostle of conservative democracy in
England. In the Fortnightly Review
and in Macmillan under his manage
ment there was an inspiration for the
Radical idea of young England which
had not previously existed. Indeed. as
fashions change slowly among phleg-
matte men, the fashion of literature
since Burke's days has been political
conservatism. Radical vagaries-
nobody credited them with any more
reputable name-had to air themselves
in prints you would not find on the rail-
way stalls. Morley, a straightforward,
plain man, not particularly eager for
personal success, but steadfast in his
democratic tendencies, had to open the
way for Radical thought in the higher
walks of English printing, and each of
his differences with the proprietors of
the publications of which he was editor
was primarily due to his resolute de-
termination to promote independent
political action and original discussion
on public questions. He was, in fact,
the father Of what may be called the
platform style Of periodical. In order
to di1nish opposition to his Radicalism
he opened the Fortnightly to both sides
of every question. He believed with
that other great political thinker of an
earlier day, that truth was never put to
fight in an open encounter. He reaped
sooner than he expected the reward of
his honesty and his courage. An Oxford
man and a member of the English bar,
he has been in Parliament just four
years. Except Charles James Fox and
the younger Pitt no other man made
a parliamentary reputation so quickly
and 80 securely. Unlike them, he had
neither kindred nor caste nor So
cial power to promote his cele-
brlty. Unlike them, he has not 1e-
markable powers of oratory. On
the contrary, it seems only the other
day that he was generally but respect
fully laughed at-respectfully. because,
although his hesitant manner and mani
fest fright made it impossible not to
laugh, his clearness Of purpose and the
meat in what he said made it impos-
sible not to respect him. Custom has
stalled the nervousness which injured
his first year in the House. He still
shows it, but no longer detracts from
the effect of his speaking. He talks
less picturesquely than he writes. His
volumes on Voltaire and Diderot are
resplendent with fine thoughts finely
expressed, and many of his essays in
his miscellanies scintillate with pene-
trating brilliancy. But his parliament
ary speeches are direct, unembellished,
muscular efforts addressed to the COM
mon sense, not to the taste or imagina
ton of the House. He is never misun-
derstood. He knows the value of that
quality which Coleridge christened:
Simplicity,
Thou better name than all the family of fame.
If Morley's speeches are within the
comprehension of all Englishmen, from
Oxonian gowns to rustics and cockneys,
his political principles equally clear.
He is one of the few men in British pub
lie life of whom it is certain that he
would rather see his principles spread
than himself in power. He was lifted
out of no place in the state into high
one at time, too, of bitter dissension
and complicated animosities. He never
showed elation In success nor chagrin
in defeat. His course while Chief Sec
retary for Ireland marked the beginning
OF new era in the relations of the two
countries No man since Lord Fitz-
william succeeded in making English
rule less odious. Had he been allowed
to remain at the post, it is not impos-
sible that something of the fealty which
binds the Irish in he British colonies
to the Clown, and makes them feel
something like self-respect as a portion
of the Empire, might have been engen-
dered in Ireland. But his official con-
duct, firm, equitable and bipartisan
as between domestic factions, has
served only to render that of his success
sors more abhorrent. He stands for
what may be called conservative radi-
calism in all things. He would do nOth-